Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use: Do students with mild-intellectual disability mimic students in the general population?
French teens with mild ID match peers in drinking, smoke and use cannabis less after age 14, and bullying plus low life satisfaction drive their higher risk.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Pacoricona Alfaro et al. (2017) asked 1,248 French junior-high students about drinking, smoking, and cannabis. Half went to special-ed classes for mild intellectual disability. The rest were general-ed peers in the same schools.
Kids filled out anonymous forms during class. They also rated life satisfaction and reported any bullying.
What they found
Under 14: both groups used alcohol and tobacco at the same low rates. Over 14: general-ed students smoked and used cannabis more. Alcohol stayed equal in both groups.
Low life satisfaction and being bullied raised risk for everyone, but the jump was biggest for students with ID.
How this fits with other research
Didden et al. (2009) looked at adults with mild ID in treatment. Substance users had worse coping and more behavior problems. Liz shows the risk starts early, not just in clinics.
Faught et al. (2021) tested a school program to cut substance use in youth with mild ID. It helped rule-breaking but did not touch emotional problems. Liz points to bullying and low satisfaction as levers programs should target.
Dubé et al. (2024) tracked anxiety in students with ID. Less victimization and safer classrooms predicted lower anxiety. Liz adds that cutting bullying may also curb later drug use.
Why it matters
You already watch for aggression or self-injury. Add quick screens for alcohol and cannabis once students turn 14. Ask two questions: "How happy are you with life?" and "Are you bullied?" If either score is low, plan refusal-skills lessons and bullying support. Small groups work; five-minute check-ins work too.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Education policies encourage inclusion of students with mild-intellectual disability (mild-ID) in community/school life. However, such policies potentially increase exposure to substance use. This article examines tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among French students enrolled in special units for students with disabilities (ULIS) at mainstream junior high schools compared to those of general population of the equivalent age; and explores factors associated with substance use among ULIS students, known to present mostly mild-ID. In 2014, a questionnaire adapted from the international HBSC/WHO study was administered to 700 ULIS students (mean-age 14.2). Comparative data were gathered from 7023 junior high-school students (mean-age 13.6) in the general population. Among students <14 years-old, tobacco and alcohol use rates were similar between ULIS and general population. For students ≥14, alcohol use remained comparable, while tobacco and cannabis use were higher in general population. Among ULIS students, low perceived health/life satisfaction, divorced/separated parents and high perceived academic demands were associated with tobacco use. Bullying, not liking school very much and attending schools outside a deprived area were associated with alcohol use. Having had sexual intercourse and not perceiving one's health as excellent were associated with cannabis use. Having dated was associated with using all three substances.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2017 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.10.009